FAA Part 107 Drone Rules for Business Video in Southern California

The FAA Part 107 basics

FAA Part 107 is the certification that allows a pilot to fly a drone commercially in the United States. If a video that includes drone footage is used to promote a business — a listing, a brand film, an ad, social content — that is commercial use, and the pilot must hold a current Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. A hobbyist flight does not qualify, and the footage from one cannot be used commercially.

Airspace and LAANC in Southern California

Southern California is dense with controlled airspace. Flying near airports — including Ontario International, Brackett Field, and across the LA Basin — requires authorization through LAANC, the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. We secure these clearances before every aerial shoot so the footage is not just cinematic but legal and insurable.

Why unlicensed footage is a risk for a brand

• It is illegal to use commercially, which can void insurance and create liability.
• It can be challenged or removed from platforms and listings.
• It signals a corner-cutting vendor, which undercuts the brand's own positioning.

The gear behind compliant aerials

We fly a full-frame 8K DJI Inspire 3 with Apple ProRes RAW for broadcast-quality aerials. The point of the certification is not just legality — it is the difference between a legal, insurable, broadcast-grade aerial and a hobbyist shot that a brand cannot safely use.